Port breaks Glenelg's heart at Alberton

PORT Adelaide has broken Glenelg's heart for the second time this season at Alberton, moving within one game of the top five.

Port Adelaide coach Ken McGregor during the match against Glenelg at Alberton.

PORT Adelaide has broken Glenelg's heart for the second time this season at Alberton, moving within one game of the top five with a three-point win.

The come from behind victory - which saw the Magpies kick two goals in the final seven minutes to steal the game - was eerily similar to a two point win against the Tigers in round three.

While unconvincing, it keeps Port in the finals race with six games to go.

"If we lost that game it was almost season over," Port coach Ken McGregor said.

"It gives us a sniff but we know we've got a lot of work to do to even be a chance. We've got to play a lot better than that."

Glenelg was the superior side for much of the day, showing a commitment to spread defensively that had been missing since the early part of the season.

In a low-scoring affair which saw both sides play extra numbers behind the ball, Josh Trembath was the only dominant forward on the ground.

But he managed just four goals from 10 shots at goal (five missed and one fell short) as the Tigers wasted top performances by midfield trio Andrew Bradley, Hayden Jolly and Jason Davenport.

Port stayed close early by being efficient in attack, kicking five goals from its first nine forward entries to trail by just two points at the main break.

Aaron Young was in particularly good touch for the Magpies, kicking two first half goals and setting up another, while Sam Gray potentially added another three votes to what should be a sizeable total on Magarey night.

All in all it was a much improved effort by the Tigers' back six. Craig Pitt, Shaun Tapp and Sam Shaw won their respective match-ups with Graham Johncock, Josh Thurgood and Ed Heath as Glenelg held an opponent under 70 points for the first time this season.

The Tigers had three great opportunities to put away the game early in the final term but Cameron Hitchcock and Trembath (twice) pushed their shots wide.

And just when you thought the Tigers were home they crumbled. Port was allowed a chain of uncontested marks from a kick-in and scored through Graham Johncock goal before James Watt brought the house down with a superb long-range finish to put the Magpies in front.

Port held on to hand Glenelg it's ninth consecutive defeat but this was the best Tigers' performance in months.

"We took some good steps," Glenelg coach Kris Massie said.

"We just didn't capitalise and reward ourselves up forward... that's basically it."

Forward/ruckman Alex Barns debuted for the Magpies and looked like getting off to a dream start when he hauled in a contested mark inside 50 only to kick his shot for goal into the man on the mark.

But he's a good size and looks a player of the future.

The forecast isn't as good for Power veteran Brett Ebert, who failed to make it through his return game in the reserves.

Ebert left the ground after injuring his hamstring in the second term.

PORT ADELAIDE 3.1 6.4 6.8 9.9 (63)

GLENELG 2.4 6.6 7.6 8.12 (60)

Best - Port: Gray, Young, Summerton, Watt, Meiklejohn, Kirkwood. Glenelg: Bradley, Jolly, Davenport, Tapp, Trembath, Logan.

Goals - Port: Young, Watt 2.1, Johansen 2.0, Johncock, Newton, Thurgood 1.1, Gray, Kulikowski 0.1, rushed 0.2. Glenelg: Trembath 4.5, Kirkby 2.2, Davenport 2.0, McFarlane, Hitchcock, Mules 0.1, rushed 0.2.

Umpires - Medlin, Deboy, Lally.